Hey Jerry (smiles) you got it! it sure isn't natural that's for sure. it is learned behavior and it makes you wonder. take care...katie :)

AuthorReply

Comment | 45 words

Sun, April 6th, 2008 7:03am

Yes, it does make one wonder. My father was a very prejudiced person... he had disgusting 'slang' names for every nationality. Luckily, my 'learned behavior' came from my mother, who taught me to accept everyone as equal. Thanks for the great comment, Katie. Peace.....Jerry

Unknown

Comment | 8 words

Sat, April 5th, 2008 5:25pm

another good one Jerry - food for thought!

AuthorReply

Comment | 14 words

Sun, April 6th, 2008 7:05am

Thanks, Irwin for the read and comment! Glad you liked the haiku. Peace.....Jerry

Thanks, Anna. You would think it would be the other way around... that 'maturity' obliterate intolerance but as the haiku suggests... we learn prejudices from those around us whether it be family, school friends or just hanging in the neighborhood. I'm happy that you liked my haiku. Peace.....Jerry

Unknown

Comment | 21 words

Sun, April 6th, 2008 5:35am

This is the truth of all our young adults isn't it. But they'll grow out of it eventually. =) Great haiku jerry!

AuthorReply

Comment | 22 words

Sun, April 6th, 2008 7:11am

Thanks for the great comment! I'm happy that you liked the haiku. Unfortunately, not all grow out of their prejudices. Peace.....Jerry

So much said with so few words. I don't exactly agree, but it's interesting to see that we actually teach kids to hate through our own mistakes and bad examples. I'd prefer to say that we are all guilty of prejudice, and the fact that we say "oh, they're just being innocent" when little children say mean things, shows that we really want to believe in the silver lining and the good in mankind, but we can't. Those habits of "innocence" that are developed at a young age tend to carry as an adult, no matter how hard we try to suppress ourselves.

You see? It takes me at least a hundred words to express what you wrote in eleven words! Props to you!

AuthorReply

Comment | 96 words

Wed, April 9th, 2008 7:02am

Glad you enjoyed the haiku and thanks for your great comment, Cathy. I believe that as tiny tots we are all loving and innocent. As we grow, it is through others that we learn... and some of us learn to hate people who are different from us. There is a song by Rodgers and Hammerstein from their musical "South Pacific" called "YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY TAUGHT" that sums up my feelings of racism and hatred perfectly.

Thanks again for checking out my work and for taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment! Cheers.....Jerry

As I said before I have tried writing in this format and failed miserably. So I will leave that to better poets than myself.

Peace

Boneman

AuthorReply

Comment | 48 words

Wed, April 16th, 2008 6:30am

Oh no... not better poets, boneman! Just a different style of writing, so don't sell yourself short. I'm happy that you have enjoyed some of my haiku. It makes me happy to know that my arrangement of words have meant something special to someone else!! Peace out.....Jerry

An old thespian like you should remember the song "Dit emmoi por qua?' from South Pacific. You haiku is a nice echo of that.

AuthorReply

Comment | 51 words

Tue, April 29th, 2008 6:30am

Thank you, James. Yes, "Dit emmoi por qua?" is by Rodgers and Hammerstein from 'South Pacific' as is 'You've Got to Be Carefully Taught' My inspiration for the haiku came from (as you put it) an echo of that. I'm happy that it triggered that theatrical memory for you! Peace.....Jerry